Great Gesture By Rangers FC

In a UK first, Rangers Football Club has donated over 1,200 tickets to members of the Armed Forces for the Club’s Champions League tie against Unirea Urziceni at Ibrox Stadium next Tuesday. (20 October, 2009)

Having received confirmation from the Romanian side that they would not be taking up their allocation in the traditional away section, the Club has taken the unprecedented decision to offer this area of the ground to soldiers from The Army in Scotland in honour of their service to their country.

The initiative is believed to be the first time a UK football club has donated an entire section of its ground to serving members of the Armed Forces and it follows a number of previous visits to Ibrox and Murray Park by members of the Army and Royal Marines.

Martin Bain commented: “This football club is totally committed to supporting and recognising these brave individuals. Once we learned Unirea would not be taking up their allocation in the away section at Ibrox we immediately thought of donating the tickets to The Army in Scotland. We all owe the members of the Armed Forces a huge debt of gratitude and our fans will give them a wonderful and deserved reception when they attend our European tie next Tuesday."

Walter Smith commented: “Footballers are often regarded as heroes but the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces are the true heroes in life and it will be our pleasure to welcome them to Ibrox."

Brigadier David Allfrey, Commander 51 (Scottish) Brigade, commented: “Wow! This is an extraordinary gesture by any standards! Football is a major passion across the Army and Scottish soldiers all have strong allegiances. Even Celtic fans across the Brigade have been taken aback by Rangers generosity!

“An evening at Ibrox is a wonderful opportunity for Rangers fans in the Army – along with many others who just enjoy the game or perhaps those who have never seen a game at this level before – to watch two of the best teams in Europe in an iconic stadium. We are all hugely appreciative of Rangers generosity and wish them well representing Scotland in the Champions League."

Andy Kerr, President of the Rangers Supporters Assembly, commented: “I am delighted that the Club has made this generous gesture to our Armed Forces personnel. The soldiers that attend the match will receive a fantastic welcome from the Rangers fans."

In recent months, the Rangers Charity Foundation has worked closely with veterans’ charities Poppyscotland and Erskine while the Club invited members of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland and Royal Marines from 45 Commando – who had just returned from front line duty in Afghanistan - to SPL matches at Ibrox.

In addition, Scottish soldiers based in Germany have been invited to Rangers training sessions both during pre-season tours and before European matches in the last couple of years.

Great work,nice to see clubs giving something to our troops..........BFR maybe you should dod a tour of duty out there.........you may have a different outlook to it.......the statement you have just made is a disgrace

[quote][cite]Posted By: JT[/cite]Celtic did this a few seasons back, good idea. ;-)[/quote]

No they didn't, after Rangers had some Soldiers on the pitch during a game last season Celtic felt obliged to do the same but they said the soldiers must not wear their uniforms in case it upset the crowd!

Celtic can't even do the minutes silence for Remembrance Day, they have asked the SFA and SPL if they can have an applause instead and they are playing away at Falkirk. How can you have an applause for that?